Giants vs. Falcons: Turning Point Of Week 2 Loss

By Kenneth Teape | Sep 20, 2015

The New York Giants suffered yet another heartbreaking loss in Week 2, this time at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons. Just like in their Week 1 game against the Dallas Cowboys, the Giants were unable to get out of their own way en route to blowing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. Just like last week, the Giants also saw all the momentum in the game change on one play. Unfortunately, the Giants have no one to blame but themselves this time around, as the referees hurt the Giants last week.

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This week, the turning point came while the Giants were on offense. The Giants were rolling and in control of the game. Not only were they deep in Falcons territory and ready to score again, their defense was also playing well. The Giants defense had forced three consecutive three-and-outs for the Falcons offense after giving up a long drive that resulted in a field goal.

Not only was the defense doing their part, the offense looked poised to increase their 20-10 lead and possibly put the Falcons away. It would have made three straight scoring drives for the Giants, who had scored a field goal and touchdown on their previous drives as their offense was finally getting in motion.

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But, on third-and-two from the Falcons’ eight yard line, the Giants worst nightmare came to live. The pocket collapsed around Eli Manning, so he moved up and to the left out of the pocket to avoid the rush. Unfortunately for the Giants and Manning, he didn’t have the best ball security as he was still looking up field to keep the play alive and hopefully find a receiver get open as the play was breaking down.

But, he was never able to get rid of the ball, as Kroy Biermann caught him behind for a strip sack. With the ball loose on the field, Paul Soliai pounced on the ball, ending the Giants drive and saving the Falcons afternoon.

With that, the momentum began swinging in the Falcons direction and never came back the Giants way. Inside their own 10-yard line, the Falcons quickly got out of harm’s way as Matt Ryan found Jacob Tamme on the right side of the field for a 41-yard gain. It was the start of what ended up being a 12 play, 91-yard drive that ended with Ryan finding Leonard Hankerson in the endzone for a touchdown he threw right over the outstretched arm of Trumaine McBride.

Sep 20, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants fans have a stunned reacts to Atlanta Falcons touchdown during second half at MetLife Stadium. The Atlanta Falcons defeated the New York Giants 24-20.

Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

Still up three, the Giants got a little bit of luck on an Eli Manning fumble that resulted in a first down when Larry Donnell recovered it. But, they were unable to capitalize as the drive stalled right after they passed midfield.

The Giants defense was able to hold the Falcons offense after the punt, but the Giants offense once again shot themselves in the foot. They butchered the time management and situational play calling once again, and gave the ball back to the Falcons. The Falcons would subsequently tear through the Giants defense like a hot knife through butter and take a 24-20 lead.

After some more poor play calling and decision making, the Giants turned the ball over on downs, and the Falcons left MetLife Stadium with a win. The Giants literally gave away another game, as they have no one to blame but themselves for sitting at 0-2 on the season instead of 2-0.

After that fumble, the Giants offense managed to gain only 74 yards on three drives, scoring zero points. On the contrary, the Falcons were able to reel off 205 yards on three drives, scoring two touchdowns to steal a victory.

Odell Beckham Jr., who dominated the Falcons all afternoon with seven receptions for 146 yards and one touchdown, was targeted only twice on those final three drives, one of which drew a 30-yard pass interference call.

That was the only real positive play for the Giants after the Manning fumble, as the Giants offense fell out of sync and couldn’t get things back on track.

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